The use of recombinant Escherichia coli LamB protein to study the human antibody response to an individual meningococcal PorA outer membrane protein epitope

Abstract

Recombinant Escherichia coli LamB proteins containing meningococcal PorA epitopes were used for the analysis of the human antibody response to specific PorA epitopes. Sera from meningococcal cases, carriers and controls were examined by an ELISA-inhibition assay. Antibody to the serosubtype P1.16 epitope was detected with similar frequency regardless of whether recombinant E. coli LamB protein containing P1.16 or SDS-PAGE purified meningococcal class 1 protein (serosubtype P1.16) was used as the antigen.